USIP files motion to block carving of Trump’s name into headquarters amid Kennedy Center row

WASHINGTON, DC: As the legal fight over adding President Donald Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center continues, ousted board members of the US Institute of Peace have asked a federal court to stop his name from being permanently carved into the institute’s headquarters.

The former USIP board members filed an emergency motion on Thursday, September 17, saying that a contractor has already been selected for the work. The move adds another Washington legal dispute over Trump’s effort to place his name on a prominent institution, just days after the Kennedy Center was closed amid a separate fight over its proposed renaming.

USIP board members seek to stop permanent carving of Trump’s name

The former board members asked the court to prevent Kenneth Jackson, the DOGE official serving as acting president of USIP, from allowing the planned carving while litigation over the institute’s future continues. The motion argues that the headquarters is privately owned and was largely funded through private donations to USIP as a tax-exempt nonprofit.

"The building, which was largely funded by private donations to USIP as a tax exempt nonprofit corporation, is a work of expressive architecture designed to be 'symbolic of USIP's' independent 'mission,'" the emergency motion said. "Alteration of the design to impose a different message would cause irreparable harm."

In December, last year, Trump’s name was added to the exterior using bolted-on lettering next to the institute’s existing name. The administration had previously sought to dismantle USIP as part of the Department of Government Efficiency effort to reduce the federal government.

The institute has been involved in litigation with the administration since 2025, after DOGE personnel took control of the organization and most USIP employees were fired. A federal judge ruled in May 2025 that the administration’s actions to dismantle USIP were unlawful, though an appeals court later stayed that ruling.

USIP has maintained that it is an independent institution created by Congress, while the administration has argued that it is part of the executive branch. The new motion argues that permanently carving Trump’s name into the facade would cause harm while the legal dispute remains unresolved. 

"Notwithstanding the importance that the President and his supporters place on attaching his name to notable buildings," the motion said. "Appellants will suffer no harm or prejudice whatsoever if they are precluded from carving the President's name into the USIP building unless and until this litigation concludes in their favor."

USIP motion follows Kennedy Center closure and re-naming fight

Just days ago, a federal judge also blocked efforts to restore Trump’s name to the exterior of Kennedy Center without proper congressional approval. The Trump-aligned Kennedy Center board subsequently voted to close the venue, citing the need for renovations and safety work.

Trump has also warned that the Kennedy Center could ultimately be “ripped down” if his administration’s plans do not move forward. However, on Thursday, September 17, a federal judge ordered the administration to provide at least 30 days’ notice before making major physical changes to the building, including any demolition.

The USIP board members have also referenced the Kennedy Center dispute in their emergency filing as they seek to prevent a permanent alteration of their headquarters.